Apparatus for filling and mounding graves



Oct. 13, 1925- 1,557,507

. N. A. WATSON APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND MOUNDING GRAVES Filed Oct. 23, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 rzi i 3 zs A I U 1 *iflifi l I J52 36 5 NVENTOR.

n 3 f2 1 o o a I I z 20 64-4$ /ym 26 A TTORNEY.

Oct. 13, 1925. 1557.507

, N. A. WATSON nmmus FOR mnmue mu uounnme emwas Filed Oct '23. 192.4 2 shuts-sum 2 INVENTOR. juallfl 71658011,,

I BY W ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 13, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NEILL A. WATSON, 0F RAEFOBI), NORTH, CAROLINA.

APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND MOUNDING GRAVES.

Application filed October 23, 1924.. Serial no. 745,465.

This invention relates to an apparatus for use in connection with thedigging, filling and mounding of graves, and has for its object to provide an apparatus of such type, in a manner as hereinafterset forth, with means for receiving and separating the yellow or light colored earth from the dark during the digging of the grave and with such means constructed and arranged whereby the yellow or light colored earth can be deposited in the grave in advance of the dark earth, so that the latter can be utilized for the mound and sodding pur poses.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the class referred to, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, with means to provide the mound for the grave after the latter has been filled from the apparatus.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an apparatus for use in connection with the digging, filling and mounding of graves, and which is portable, strong, durable, compact, thoroughly eflicient and convenient in its use, readily assembled and con'iparatively inexpensive to set up.

\Vith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views 2' Figure 1 is an end elevation of an apparatus for the purpose set forth and in accordance with this invention andwiththe tiltable dirt receiving receptacles in nondumping position. a M i Figure 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus, partly broken away, and with ;the

dirt receiving receptacles in non-dumping position.

Figure 3 ure 2. p 3

Figure 4. is a section on line 44, Figure .2, and further illustrating in dotted lines the dirt receiving receptacles in dump- 1ng position. 7 t

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in seeis a section on line SS,;Fig-

tion, illustrating the flattening: roller for the top of the mound and further illustrating the scraper element.

Figure 6 is a section on ure 2.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the scraper elements. l

The apparatus includes a pair of arcuate housings, one referred to generally by the reference character 1 and the other by the reference character 2. Each of said housings consists of a front wall 8, a rear wall 4, a bottom 5 formed with an opening 6 centrally thereof, and a body portion 7, which is integral with the walls 3, 4, and provided with oppositely extending openings 8, 9. The rear wall 4, near its top, has oppositely disposed cutout portions 10, 11, to provide clearances for a purpose to be hereinafter referred to. The body portion 7, as wellas the bottom 5 issegmental in contour, and the bottom 5, at each end of the opening 6, from. therein, is provided with a vertically disposed flange 12. The bottom 5, at its lower end is laterally flanged in opposite directions, as at 13, 14, and each of said flanges terminates in an enlargement 15, formed at the lower end of the body portion 7. Each of said enlargements 15 is provided with a lengthwise extending opening 16. The body portion 7 is formed with a pair of opposed openings 17, which arear ranged in alignment with openings 18 provided in the flanges 12. The front wall 3, as well as the rear wall 4, is formed with two pairs of arc-uate slots. The slots of each pair are arranged one above the other, and the slots of one pair are indicated at 17 and the slots of the other pair at 18'.

The housings 1 and 2 are connected together by, a pair of shafts 19 and 20 and which extend through the openings 16 formed in the enlargements 15. a The shafts 19 and 20 are provided with collars 21, which abut against the rear walls 4. The

line 6- 6, F igshafts project from the front walls 3 and on each of the projecting ends of the shaft is secured a collar 22, having a lateral extension 23 to which is connected a. bracket 24, provided with a spindle 25 for carrying a wheel 26. Each end terminal portion of each of the shafts is peripherally threaded and mounted on said threaded terminal portion is a securing nut 27,which abuts against a collar 22 and maintains the latter in position. The nuts 27, collars 22 and collars 21 arrest shifting of the'housing lengthwise of the shaft.

Pivoted upon the shaft 19 is a dirt receiving receptacle 28, and pivoted on the shaft 20 is a dirt receiving receptacle 29. Each of said shafts carries a plurality of laterally projecting supports for a receptacle when the latter is in its extended position. The receptacles are arranged on the shafts between the collars 21, and these latter arrest movement of the receptacles lengthwise of the shafts. The receptacle 28 is adapted to receive the black dirt and the receptacle 29 the yellow or light dirt, and the receptacles are so set up that when shifted to dump the collected dirt, the receptacle 29 will dump in advance of the receptacle 28.

The receptacle 28, at each upper outer corner of each end, is provided with a projection, and one of said projections is indicated at 31 and the other at 32. Carried by the projection 31 is an eye 33, and carried by the projection 32 is an eye 34. The

' receptacle 29, at each upper outer corner, at

each of its ends is formed with a projection, and one of said projections is indicated at 35, and the other at 36. Extended from the projection 35 isan eye 37, and extended from the projection 36 is an eye 38. Attached to the eyes 33, 34, 37 and 38 respectively are the flexible pulling members 39, 40, 41 and 42, and these flexible members are termed dumping cables. When the receptacles 28 and 29 are moved to dumping position, as indicated in dotted line position in Figure 4, the cutout portions 10 provide clearances for the projections 31 and 32, and the cutout portions 11 provide clearances for the projections 35 and 36. .The cables 39 and 40 extend into the housings 1 and 2, through the openings 8, and the cables 41 'and 42 extend into the housings 1 and 2 through the openings 9.

J ournaled centrally of each of the housings 1, 2, is an operating shaft 43, and journaled in each of the housings, at each side of the shaft 43 is a drum shaft, and one of the drumshafts is indicated at 44 and the other at 45. The drum carried by the shaft 44 is indicated at 46, and that carried by the shaft 45 is indicated at 47. The cables 39 and 40 wind on and off the drums 46, and the cables 41 and 42 wind on and oifthe drums 47.

The shafts 44 and 45 project outwardly from the front wall 3 of each housing, and the outer projecting end of the shaft 44 is provided with a gear wheel 48, and the outer projecting end of the shaft 45 carries a gear 49 of materially less diameter than the diameter. of the gear 48. The shaft 43 projects outwardly from the outer wall 3 of each of the housings and carries a driving gear of less diameter than the gear 48, but of greater diameter than the gear 49, and said gear 50 meshes with the gears 48 and 49. The outer projecting end of the shaft 43 carries a crank orhandle 51. The gear 49 is set up of much smaller diameter than the gear 48, for the reason that when the shaft 43 is operated, the dumping of the receptacle 29 will be had in advance of the dumping of the receptacle'28. lVhen the shaft 43 is operated, the gear 50 is carried therewith and provides for the revolving of the shafts 44 and 45 in opposite directions. In view of the meshing of the gear 50 with the gears 48 and 49 and on the operation of the shafts 45 and 46 in one direction, the dumping cables will be wound on the drums thereby shifting the receptacles to dumping position, but as before stated, the dumping of the receptacle 29 will behad in advance 'of the dumping of the receptacle 28.

The slots 17 and 18 of the front wall 3 of each housing are arranged in alignment with the slots 17 and 18 of the rear wall of each housing, and extending through the aligning slots 17 are adjusting bolts 52, 53. Extending through the aligning slots 18' are adjusting bolts 54, 55. The adjusting bolts project at each end from a housing, and one end thereof is headed and the other end thereof threaded for the reception of a clamping nut 56.

Positioned against the outer face of the front, as well as the rear wall of a housing, is a pair of oppositely extending curved mound shaping blades 57, 58. The blades 57 are vertically as well as laterally adjustable, and for such purpose each of the blades is formed with a pair of inclined slots 59,

60. Extending through the slots 59 of the blades 57, are the adjusting bolts 52. Extending through the slots 60 of the blades 57 is the adjusting bolt 53. Extending through the inclined slots 59 of the blades 58, are the adjusting bolts 54 and extending through the inclined slots 60 of the blades 58 are the adjusting bolts 55. The clamping nuts 56 are arranged exteriorly of the wall 3 and bind against the outer sides of the blades 57 and 58.

J ournaled in the aligning openings 17 and 18 of each housing is-a shaft 61, which carries a roller 62 positioned between the flanges 12, and-said roller 62 is designed for flattening the top of the mound and operates in conjunction with the blades 57, 58, as

cated at 63, in Figure 4.

The front wall 3 of each housing is provided with a pair of eyes 64 or other suitable devices for connecting a traction means to either end ofthe apparatus when desired. The wheels 26 suspend the housings a substantial distance above the ground and when the apparatus is used, it is moved to the position shown in Figure 3, and as a grave is dug, the dark dirt is thrown into the receptacle 28 and the yellow dirt into the re ceptacle 29. Thehousings are not very high and one can readily reach over the same when lowering the casket. After the casket has been lowered, both crank handles 51 are operated and the dirt receptacles will be swung or shifted to the position shown in dotted lines, Figure 4, but the operation of such receptacles will be that the receptacle 29 is dumped in advance of the receptacle 28. After the dirt has been dumped into the grave, the blades 57 are vertically and laterally adjusted and fixed in such position. The receptacles 28 and 29 are then connected together by the fastening means 63. The apparatus is then pulled lengthwise of the grave whereby the roller 62 will flatten the top of the mound and the blades 57 58 shape the sides thereof. The supports 30 are secured to the shafts by set screws 65, and by this arrangement the receptacles when extended can be positioned at any desired inclination, but are always spaced a sufiicient distance from the ground. The outer side walls of each of the receptacles has its top formed with an inwardly extending retaining flange 66. The receptacles when extended are disposed at a downward inclination, as shown in Figures 4 and 6, so as to retain the dirt when deposited therein during the digging of the grave 67.

An apparatus, in accordance with this invention, not only provides a means to cause the quick filling of a grave, but also for the shaping of the mound, and it is thought that the many advantages of an apparatus for the purpose referred to, in accordance with this invention, can be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, yet changes in the details of construction can be had which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

WVhat I claim is 1. An apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a pair of portable housings, means for connecting said housings together,

a pair of oppositely shiftable dirt collecting and dumping receptacles carried by said means, and means mounted in each housing and connected with said receptacles for shifting them simultaneously to clumpingposition one in advance of theother.

2. An apparatus for thepurpose set forth comprising a pairv of portable housings,

means for connecting said housings together,

a pair of oppositely shiftable dirt collecting and dumping receptacles carried by said means, means mountedin each housing and connected with said receptacles for shifting them simi-iltaneously to dumping position one in advance of the other, and a mound top flattening rollercarried by each of said housings l 3. An apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a pair of portable housings, means. for connecting said housings to ether, a pair of oppositely shiftable dirt col ecting and dumping receptacles carried by said means, means mounted in each housing and connected with said receptacles for shifting them simultaneously to dumping position one in advance of the other, and adjustable combined mound shaping and scraping blades carried by each of said housings.

4. An apparatus for the purpose set forth comp-rising a pair of portable housings, means for connecting said housings together, a pair of oppositely shiftable dirt collecting and dumping receptacles carried by said means, means mounted in each housing and connected with said receptacles for shifting them to dumping position one in advance of the other, a mound top flattening roller carried by each of said housings, and combined shaping and scraping blades carried by each of said housings.

5. An apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a pair of portable housings, means for connecting said housings together, a pair of oppositely shiftable dirt collecting and dumping receptacles carried by said means, means mounted in each housing and connected with said receptacles for shifting them simultaneously to dumping position one in advance of the other, and vertically and laterally adjustable combined mound shaping and scraping blades curved carried by each of said housings.

6. An apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a. pair of portable housings, means for connecting said housings together, a pair of oppositely shiftable dirt collecting and dumping receptacles carried by said means, means mounted in each. housing and connected with said receptacles for shifting them to dumping position one in advance of the other, a mound top flattening roller carried by each of said housings, and vertically and laterally adjustable combined mound shaping and scraping blades carried by each of said housings.

7. An apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a pair of portable housings, means for connecting said housings together, a pair of oppositely shiftable dirt collecting and dumping receptacles carried by said means, means mounted in each housing and connected with said receptacles for shifting them simultaneously in dumping position one in advance of the other, and each of said housings provided with means to constitute clearances when said receptacles are shifted to dumping position.

8. An apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a pair of portable housings, means for connecting said housings together, a pair of oppositely shiftable dirt collecting and dumping receptacles carried by said means, means mounted in each housing and connected with said receptacles for shifting them simultaneously in dumping position one in advance of the other, each of said housings provided with means to constitute clearances when said receptacles are shifted to dumping position, and means for detach ably securing said receptacles together when in dumping position.

9. An apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a pair of portable housings, means for connecting said housings together, a pair of oppositely shiftable dirt collecting and dumping receptacles carried by said means, means mounted in each housing and connectedwith said receptacles for shifting them simultaneously in dumping position one in advance of the other, and supports extending laterally from said connecting means for supporting the receptacles when extended.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature hereto.

NEILL A. WVATSON. 

